2017-01: Support for Ongoing Tribal State Consultation for Implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1970 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, NIEA as the largest national Indian organization of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian educators, administrators, parents, and students in the United States, provides a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Indian and Native people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique relationship with Indian nations and tribes, the federal government has a fiduciary responsibility to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides tribes and Native communities opportunities to play a more active role in the education of their students and citizens; and

WHEREAS, in ESSA, under Section 1111, consultation with representatives of Indian tribes is included as a critical provision to better support Native students; and

WHEREAS, tribal state consultation is a new requirement for states as they developed their ESSA plans; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the consultation requirement is to facilitate relationships between Native communities, tribes, and the public education institutions that serve Native students; and

WHEREAS, meaningful consultation and sustainable relationships are not established through one time occurrences, but must be ongoing; and

WHEREAS, a key way to ensure that ongoing and meaningful tribal consultation is occurring is by continuing ESSA state planning committees that have tribal representation; and

WHEREAS, in order for Native students to be provided with the holistic support they need and deserve, states and tribes must work collaboratively together throughout the school year; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of tribal consultation policy in a state educational agency (SEA) such as the one developed in Arizona is another way to ensure that tribal leaders and Native communities are key players in decisions that affect their students.

WHEREAS, some tribes in partnerships with states such as Minnesota and others have passed consultation policies that require and support the consultation and ongoing conversations that are critical to effective educational outcomes for Native students.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association calls on SEAs to ensure that meaningful tribal consultation is occurring on an ongoing basis as a way to deepen tribal-state partnerships.

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association serves as a resource for tribes, Native communities, SEAs and is able to provide support to facilitate state consultation efforts.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NIEA until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.